Steam boiler



.1. w. RUDDER STEAM BOILER Jan. 2, 1934.

Filed Oct. 5, 1932v 2 Sheets-Sheet l JIM Rudder ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1934. .1. w. RUDDER 1,942,257

STEAM BOILER Filed Oct. 5 19:52 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 c11 29 r g 14 eza 7 INVENTOR W Rudder & BY Z f I I ATTORNEYS .lating body of water.

Patented Jan. 2, 1934 uNrrEo STEAM BOILER John W. Rudder, Montgomery, Ala., assignor of one-half to Alexander F. Whiting, Montgomery, Ala.

Application October 5, 1932. Serial No. 636,274

8 Claims,

My invention relates to steam boilers, and has for its object to provide a novel type of boiler in which a very rapid and efficient generation of steam is obtained.

According to my invention I propose to associate with a main boiler a relatively small steam generator, exposed to the highest temperature gases and so connected with the boiler both above and below its water line as to attain a very rapid forced circulation of steaming water which maintains all of the exposed steam generating surfaces at all times covered by a rapidly circulating body of water which flows preferably concurrently with the combustion gases so as to produce rapidly, relatively dry superheated steam in a most efficient manner.

The main object of my invention is to so control the circulation of water as to establish a preferential path for it through a set of tubes rather than through an inlet for replacing the water evaporated in the steam generator.

In order to establish this preferential path through the tubes, I provide the water inlet for the steam generator in the form of a pipe having a lower water inlet port below the water level in the boiler and a steam relief port above the water level, but the latter port is so designed as to provide a high friction exit for the steam or water suficient to establish the prefer.- ential path for the latter through the tubes, the water inlet port being designed and adapted to permit a substantially unopposed supply of water .therethrough into the steam generator. The

:steam vapor that enters the water pipe will rise lation and therefore the efficient action of the boiler is largely dependent upon this enforced and maintained circulation through the tubes, there.- by preventing the latter burning out and keeping them always filled and protected by the circu- Where the preferential circulation is permitted through the water inlet port the tubes may become dry and burn out and the whole functioning of the boiler will be ad- .versely affected.

A further advantage of my invention lies in the fact that it does not permit a short circuiting of the water supply which is preferably introduced in the water leg surrounding the fire box and which is confined to a path along which it rises into the boiler, enters the water inlet port following the preferential circuit through the tubes and is there vaporized and discharged into the top of the boiler.

,More particularly my invention contemplates providing the main boiler with one or a plurality of fire tubes and passing circulating'pipes for the steam and water from the steam generator through these fire tubes into the top of the water supply boiler, this connection being preferably made without bends in the pipes as they leave the generator.

My invention further contemplates closing the boiler end of the water supply pipe for the generator and designing the steam and inlet water ports so that if the boiler is in operation a forced circulation of water is maintained from near the bottom of the supply boiler, downwardly into the steam generator, and upwardly through the return pipes back into the top of the water supply boiler.

My invention further contemplates disposing the water inlet port at such distance above the bottom of the main boiler as to maintain a body of water ther after the supply to the steam generator is out off, whereby the main boiler is protected from being burned out.

My invention further contemplates mounting the steam generator in position between the grates of the fire box and the bottom of the water supply boiler superimposed above the generator so that the steam generator intercepts the direct access of the gases to the main boiler, causing the gases to fiow through the fire tubes in the steam generator and about the generator before coming into contact with the main boiler, whereby in the normal operation of my boiler there is no boiling action in the main boiler but the steam is generated by the transfer of heat to the rapidly circulating water passing downwardly into the generator and returned thence upwardly through the return pipes in the fire tubes of the main boiler.

My invention -further comprises novel details of construction and arrangements of parts, which in their preferred embodiment only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which: 7

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of the boiler;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail View of a modified type of my invention showing the tubes arranged in a central line with nipple connections from the water supply pipe to the boiler; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V- J of Fig. 4, showing the nipple and tube arrangement.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts through the drawings.

Referring now to my invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, I show a fire box 6 mounted on a base 7, provided with a surrounding water leg 8, and having any suitable grate 9. A valve-controlled water inlet 10 enters the lower portion of the water leg 8. The latter surrounds the fire box and opens overhead into a main boiler'll positioned above the fire box. The boiler has a plurality of fire tubes 12 preferably marginally ar ranged about the same and each tube is adapted. to convey the products of combustion from the fire box 6 to the stack 13 thereby preheating the water in the boiler 11 before it is delivered to the steam generator 14 in the manner hereinafter described.

The steam generator 14 is positioned in the upper portion of the fire box and preferably has approximately the diameter of the fire box. I provide it with a marginal series or" fire tubes 16 through which the products of combustion pass above and about the generator and enter the tubes 12. The generator is preferably supplied centrally with water from the supply boiler 11 by means of a feed water pipe 1'], closed at its upper end and having, an upper steam escape port 19 disposed above the boiler water line, and a lower Water inlet port 18 disposed in the lower porinto a nipple 20 which extends upwardly from the generator 14 and is flanged for a welded joint to the boiler bottom.

The feed water is adapted to flow from the boiler 11 into the generator 14 through the open-- ing 18 and the lower portion of the pipe 17 so as to maintain in the generator at all times an ade-- quate supply of Water which has been more or less preheated, as cold replacement water must rise through the water 1e and pass laterally over the heated bottom of the boiler 11 before it can enter the port 18.

The port 19 is adapted to so regulate the escape of steam from the water pipe as to impose a restriction on the tendency of the boiler to set up a water circulation from the generator through the water pipe into the boiler and force it to maintain a circulation in a preferential path through the series of tubes 21 that lead vertically from the margin of the steam generator 14 and pass;

preferably without bend, centrally through the fire tubes 12. These water tubes 21, by suitable elbows and union connections 22, discharge through nipples 23 into a steam dome 24 having bottom openings 25 through which the steam and any entrained water will pass into the supply boiler 11. A hood 26, provided with suitable man holes, is mounted on top of the main supply boiler preferably by a welded joint. This hood carries the stack 13 and through each man hole gives convenient access for the uncoupling, removal and replacement of a tube 21. The boiler is provided with a water gauge 27, a steam outlet pipe 28 near the upper end of the boiler 11, a valve controlled blow-off pipe 29 for the steam generator 14. The boiler itself may have any suitable clean-out or blow-out means, not shown, for its water leg.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, I show a similar arrangement of parts except that, in lieu of the marginal series of fire tubes 12, I provide a large central fire tube 30 and larrange the water tubes 31, corresponding to 21, about the center of the generator 14 so that they will rise vertically through the fire tube 3G and by means of suitable elbows and bends enter the upper portion of the supply boiler 11 directly, instead or" through a dome as in Fig. 1. The water supply pipe 17, in this construction, in lieu of the lower port 18 is provided with two opposed ports connected by nipples 32 with the lower portion of the supply boiler 11 above its botto .1 wall 33. In like manner this water pipe at its upper end is connected by a pair of nipples 34 with the upper portion of the supply boiler. These nipples are interposed between the tubes 31 and as many of the latter may be used as can conveniently placed within the large fire tube 30 without unduly restricting the outflow of the products of combustion therethrough to the hood 26.

in operation, referring to Fig. l, the supply boiler, its water leg and tubes 21 are filled with water to a level below the port 19, and fire is started in the fire box. The heat therefrom starts a circulation upwardly through the water leg 8. 195 The steam generator, being in the direct path of the products of combustion, will become quickly heated and a circulation will be started up therefrom.

When steaming action becomes established in the generator, 14, the steam will tend to pass upwardly both through the water pipe '17 and the tubes 21, but'the port 19 in pipe 17 will not provide as free an escape for the steam as will exist through the unrestricted tubes 21 and the result 115 will be that a preferential path will be established which will cause the water to circulate from the steam generator along with the steam upwardiythrough the tubes 21 concurrently with the products of combustion in tubes 12, which 1 will superheat the steam and deliver it into the upper portion of the supply boiler. Such steam as bubbles up through the water in the supply pipe 17 will escape therefrom through the port 19 without Opposing the free inflow of water 1 through the port 18 to replace the water vaporized. in the generator 14.

"In practice, therefore, a preferential circulation is established and at times maintained which keeps the pipes 21 filled with steam and 130 water so as to prevent any possibility of their burning out and always to maintain an ample supply of water in the generator through the infiux thereinto via port 18 and supply pipe 17. It is to be noted that the pipe 17 is closed over- 135 head and that its only steam outlet is through the port 19 and this isdesigned so that the preferential path for the circulating water is established' and maintained as above described.

As regards the operation of the boiler shown in Fig. 4, it is the same as that above described, the generator receiving its water supply through nipples -32 and water supply pipe 1'7 and providing for the relief of steam from the top of the pipe 17 through the nipples 34..

My boiler will produce dry steam very quickly and in ample volume, and will maintain at all times in operation a high "rate of circulation My invention provides an arrangement of parts which are all self contained and yet which are readily accessible for repair, inspection and replacement.

My present application is a continuation in part of my pending application, Serial No. 537,391, filed May 14., 1931. a

While I have shown'my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims. 7 v

What I claim is: v

1. In a steam boiler, a fire-box, a steam generating casing in the fire-box, a boiler above the casing and heated by products of combustion from said fire-box, said boiler having a lower water receiving portion and an upper steam space, a fire-tube extending through said boiler,

an upflow conduit leading from said casing through said fire-tube and discharging into the steam space of the boiler, and a pipe extending from an upper portion of the boiler downwardly to said casing, said pipe having an opening adjacent its upper end in communication with said steam space and another lower opening in communication with the water receiving portion of the boiler, whereby a portion of the steam generated in said casing may pass upwardly in said pipe and flow to the steam space through said upper opening, and water in said boiler may flow downwardly in said pipe to said casing and be heated by contact with said upwardly flowing steam.

2. In a steam boiler, a fire-box, a steam generating casing in the fire-box, a boiler above the casing and heated by products of combustion from said fire-box, said boiler having a lower water receiving portion and an upper steam space, a fire-tube extending through said boiler, an upflow conduit leading from said casing through said fire-tube and discharging into the steam space of the boiler, and a pipe of greater cross-section than said conduit extending from an upper portion of the boiler downwardly to said casing, said pipe having an opening adjacent its upper end in communication with said steam space and another lower opening in communication with the water receiving portion of the boiler, whereby a portion of the steam generated in said casing may pass upwardly in said enlarged pipe and flow to the steam space through said upper opening, and water in said boiler may flow downwardly in said pipe to said casing and be heated by contact with said upwardly flowing steam.

3. In a steam boiler, a fire-box, a steam generating casing in the fire-box, a boiler above the casing and heated by products of combustion from said fire-box, said boiler having a lower water receiving portion and an upper steam space, a fire-tube extending through said boiler, an upflow conduit leading from said casing through said fire-tube and discharging into the steam space of the boiler, and a pipe extending from the steam space downwardly through the water receiving portion of the boiler and into the casing, said pipe having an opening adjacent its upper end in communication with said steam space and another lower opening in communication with the water receiving portion of the boiler, whereby a portion of the steam generated in said casing .may pass upwardly in said pipe and flow to said steam space through the upper opening, and water in .said boiler may flow downwardly in said pipe to saidrcasing and be heatedby contact with said upwardly flowing steam.

4. In a steam boiler, a fire-box, a steam generating casing in the fire-box, a boiler above the casing and heated by products of combustion' from said fire-box, said boiler having a lower water: receiving portion andan upper steam space, a fire-tube extending through said boiler, an upflow conduit leading from said casing through said fire-tube and discharging into thev steam space of the boiler, anda pipe of greater cross-section than said conduit extendingfrom the steam space downwardly through the water receiving portion of the boiler and into the casing, said pipe having an opening adjacent its upper end in communication with said steam space and another lower opening in communication with the water receiving portion of the boiler, whereby a portion of the steam generated in said casing may pass upwardly in said enlarged pipe and flow to said steam space through the upper opening, and water in said boiler may flow downwardly in said pipe to said casing and be heated by contact with said upwardly flowing steam.

5. In a steam boiler, a fire box, a steam generating casing in the fire-box, a boiler above the casing and heated by products of combustion from said fire-box, said boiler having a lower water receiving portion and an upper steam space, an enlarged central fire-tube extending through said boiler, a plurality of upflow conduits leading from said casing through said firetube and discharging into the steam space of the boiler, a pipe disposed centrally in said firetube and extending downwardly to and communicating with a central portion of said casing, said pipe having a communication at its upper end with the steam space of the boiler, and another lower communication with the water receiving portion, whereby a portion of the steam generated in said casing may pass upwardly in said pipe and flow to said steam space, and water from said boiler may flow downwardly in said pipe to said casing and be heated by heat transfer from said fire-tube and from the steam flowing upwardly in said pipe.

6. In a steam boiler, a fire-box, a steam generating casing in the fire-box, a boiler above the casing and heated by products of combustion from said fire-box, said boiler having a lower water receiving portion and an upper steam space, an enlarged central fire-tube extending through said boiler, a plurality of upflow conduits leading from said casing through said fire-tube and discharging into the steam space of the boiler, a pipe of greater diameter than that of said conduits disposed centrally in said fire-tube extending downwardly to a central portion of said easing, said pipe having a communication at its upper end with the steam space of the boiler and another, lower communication with the water receiving portion, whereby a portion of the steam generated in said casing may pass upwardly in said enlarged pipe and flow to said steam space, and water from said boiler may flow downwardly in said pipe to said casing and be heated by heat transfer from said fire-tube and from the steam flowing upwardly in the pipe.

7. In a steam boiler, a fire-box, a steam generating casing in the fire-box, a boiler above the casing and heated by products of combustion from said fire-box, said boiler having a lower water receiving portion and'an upper steam space, a flue for the products of combustion extending lengthwise of the boiler, an upfiow conduit leading from said casing through said flue and discharging into the steam space of the boiler, and a pipe extending from an upper portion of the boiler downwardly to said casing, said pipe having an opening adjacent its upper end in communication with said steam space, and another lower opening in communication with the water receiving portion of the boiler, whereby a portion of the steam generated in said casing may pass upwardly in saidpipe and flow to the steam space through said upper opening, and water in said boiler may flow downwardly in said pipe to said casing and be heated by contact with said upwardly flowing steam.

8. In a steam boiler, a fire-box, a steam generating casing in the fire-box, a boiler above the casing and heated by products of combustion from said fire-box, said boiler having a lower water receiving portion and an upper steam space, a plurality of fire-tubes extending through said boiler, an upflow conduit leading from said casing through each of saidfire-tubes and discharging into the steam space of the boiler, and a pipe extending from the steam space downwardly through the water receiving portion of the boiler and into the casing and being of greater crosssection than any of said upflow conduits, said pipe having an opening adjacent its upper end in communication with said steam space and another lower opening in communication with the water receiving portion of the boiler, whereby a portion of the steam generated in said casing may pass upwardly in said enlarged pipe and flow to the steam space through the upper opening, and water in said boiler may flow downwardly in said pipe to said casing and be heated by contact with said upwardly flowing steam.

JOHN W. RUDDER. 

